• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chisel & Fork logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You Are Here: Home → Main Course → Sandwiches

    Turkey Pesto Sandwich

    November 12, 2022 | Updated August 8, 2023 by Ryan Leave a Comment

    336 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    turkey pesto sandwich stacked on top of each other
    slice of turkey pesto sandwich laying against another slice on white plate

    This turkey pesto sandwich is a great way to use leftover turkey during the holidays, or if you're just craving turkey any time of the year.

    turkey pesto sandwich stacked on top of each other

    You can never go wrong with a good sandwich or wrap - from a buffalo chicken cheesesteak to an apple cheddar and bacon panini to a pulled pork wrap.

    And one of the best times to make a sandwich is when you have leftovers, whether it is protein, cheese, bread or veggies.

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Simple - as with most sandwiches, this meal is quick to put together.
    • Flavorful - you get turkey, pesto, tomatoes and cheese all in one bite.
    • Utilizes leftovers - for this specific sandwich I actually used leftover turkey from my smoked turkey breast recipe, but you can use deli meat or other turkey.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Ingredient Swaps
    • Step-by-Step Photos
    • FAQs
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Other Leftover Turkey Recipes
    • Turkey Pesto Sandwich
    overhead shot of ingredients for turkey pesto sandwich

    Ingredient Notes

    • Sourdough bread - I like a thick/crusty bread for this sandwich.
    • Pesto - I usually use my homemade kale pistachio pesto, but also sometimes go with cashew pesto.
    • Sun-dried tomatoes - adds an intense sweet/tart flavor.
    • Turkey - use leftover turkey if you have it. I mentioned I used smoked turkey breast, but you can also try a spatchcock smoked turkey.
    • Mozzarella cheese - you can never go wrong with fresh mozzarella.
    • Veggies - some fresh tomatoes and spinach adds flavor and color.

    Ingredient Swaps

    As with any recipe, you can mix up some of the ingredients. Some variations include:

    • While I'm a fan of sourdough bread, you can use ciabatta or focaccia as well.
    • I like homemade pesto, but store-bought works fine.
    • If you don't have sun-dried tomatoes, try roasted red peppers.
    • While I recommend using leftover turkey, deli turkey can be substituted.
    • Mozzarella is my go-to for cheese, but fontina, provolone, Gruyère or even brie works great too.

    Step-by-Step Photos

    Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.

    process shots of adding the ingredients in between two slices of bread

    Prepare the sandwich by adding some pesto and sun-dried tomatoes to one slice of bread. Stack the remaining ingredients before adding the other slice of bread.

    process shots of pressing panini press into sandwich

    Add the sandwich to a ridged skillet or cast iron skilled and cook for 2 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and cheese is starting to melt.

    FAQs

    What is the Best Bread for a Sandwich?

    I personally love some good sourdough, but any rustic bread works great.

    What Kind of Turkey is Best?

    The simple answer here is leftover turkey from your holiday feast. You can try one of the smoked recipes I mentioned above or a more traditional herb roasted turkey.

    If you are just craving a turkey sandwich randomly in the year, deli turkey works too.

    Do I Need a Panini Press?

    As you can see from the picture above I actually don't have a panini press. To me, you don't need a fancy panini press to make tasty sandwiches.

    I use a handheld grill press, but you can easily use anything heavy like a cast iron skillet to press down the sandwich. Or you can skip pressing it down all together.

    Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

    • To save time, break out this sandwich when you have leftover turkey.
    • Slice the turkey a little thicker to add some oomph.
    • Don't leave the sandwich on the pan/grill long or you will burn it. Check every minute or so until you get the nice char marks.
    • If using a panini press, set to 400°F and press the sandwich for 5 minutes.
    slice of turkey pesto sandwich laying against another slice on white plate

    Other Leftover Turkey Recipes

    • turkey enchiladas being lifted out of glass pan
      Leftover Turkey Enchiladas
    • close-up of turkey hash on white plate with gravy
      Turkey Hash
    • Kentucky hot brown in cast iron skillet
      Kentucky Hot Brown
    • overhead shot of spoon dipped in turkey tamale pie
      Turkey Tamale Pie

    If you’ve tried this turkey pesto sandwich or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

    turkey pesto sandwich stacked on top of each other
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Turkey Pesto Sandwich

    This turkey pesto sandwich is a great way to use leftover turkey during the holidays, or if you're just craving turkey any time of the year.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Sandwich
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 590kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    • 2 slices sourdough bread
    • 2 tablespoon pesto
    • 4 sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
    • 4 oz leftover turkey slices
    • 1-2 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
    • 1-2 tomato slices
    • 3-4 spinach leaves

    Instructions

    • Prepare the sandwich. Spread the pesto and sun-dried tomatoes over one slice of bread. Add the turkey, cheese, tomatoes and spinach before topping with the other slice of bread.
    • Preheat a ridged fry pan or grill pan over medium heat until hot. Spray with cooking spray. Place the panini in the pan and weight down with a second fry pan or a grill press. Cook until the underside is golden, about 2 minutes. Turn the sandwich over, weigh it down again and cook until golden on the other side, about 2 minutes. Cut in half and serve immediately.
    • Alternatively, you can cook the sandwiches using an electric panini press according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

    Notes

    • To save time, break out this sandwich when you have leftover turkey.
    • Slice the turkey a little thicker to add some oomph.
    • Don't leave the sandwich on the pan/grill long or you will burn it. Check every minute or so until you get the nice char marks.
    • If using a panini press, set to 400°F and press the sandwich for 5 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 590kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 841mg | Potassium: 529mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
    « Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Chocolate Glaze
    Sweet Potato Cornbread »
    336 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Chisel & Fork

    ryan standing in kitchen

    Hey there! Welcome to Chisel & Fork, a blog with tasty recipes and DIY projects. I'm Ryan and here you'll find hundreds of recipes ranging from true comfort food to vegan. Oh and if you like woodworking, you might just find your next inspiration. Read More About Chisel & Fork…

    Get Your Free Copy of My Top 25 Most Popular Recipes

    title page of ecookbook

    Fall Recipes

    • apple empanada cut in half and set on top of each other on parchment paper
      Apple Empanadas
    • two coupe glasses of pear martinis
      Pear Martini
    • butternut squash bread sliced
      Butternut Squash Bread
    • overhead shot of Dutch apple cake on speckled plate
      Dutch Apple Cake

    Popular Recipes

    • spoon lifting out chicken paprikash
      Chicken Paprikash
    • chocolate chip scones stacked on white plate
      Chocolate Chip Scones
    • close-up of german chicken schnitzel on white plate
      Chicken Schnitzel
    • close-up of pork tossed in sweet soy ginger garlic sauce on bed of white rice
      Mongolian Pork

    Featured In

    logos of places where Chisel & Fork has been featured

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Information

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Recipes
    • DIY

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Us

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Chisel & Fork

    336 shares